HealthCare Global Enterprises, a pioneer in cancer care and nuclear medicine diagnostics in Karnataka, has installed a state-of-the-art PET (Positron Emission Tomography) CT scan and medical cyclotron at its facility to provide the option of a combined benefit of whole body scan in 20 minutes to patients suffering from cancer, heart and brain disorders.

Medical cyclotron facility is the only cGMP facility in the country. The facility can provide high quality isotope production facility which will meet US FDA and EU norms. Cyclotron and the laboratory will produce variety of PET-tracers also called as radioactive molecules which will be used for diagnosis of various illnesses. These molecules are injected intravenously and images are acquired using a PET-CT scanner.

HCG is providing a facility of international standards in cancer care and Nuclear Medicine diagnostics, stated Dr. BS Ajai Kumar, chairman, Healthcare Global Enterprises

PET and CT are both standard imaging tools that allow physicians to pinpoint the location of cancer within the body before making treatment recommendations, Dr K.G. Kallur, director, Cyclotron and PET-CT at Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd.,

PET-CT Scan is useful for cancer diagnosis as it helps to assess tumour aggressiveness, monitor success of therapy [surgical, chemotherapy or radiotherapy]. It can also detect early any recurrent tumours. It provides a whole-body survey for cancer that may have spread and helps to identify benign and malignant growths. It is used for radio-guided surgery and PET guided radiotherapy.

In the area of heart diseases it helps to determine the condition of the heart tissue following a suspected heart attack. It helps to predict success of angioplasty (balloon, stent) or bypass surgery. It can also determine if coronary arteries are blocked. HCG is the only centre to offer PET guided evaluation for heart muscle viability.

For brain disorders PET -CT is used to diagnose Alzheimer's and other dementia conditions. It can determine the location of epileptic seizures prior to surgery and diagnose movement disorders like Parkinson's disease. Further, it also helps to diagnose brain tumours and response to treatment.

The highly sensitive PET scan detects the metabolic signal of actively growing cancer cells in the body and the CT scan provides a detailed picture of the internal anatomy that reveals the location, size and shape of abnormal cancerous growths.

Each imaging test has particular benefits and limitations but when the results of PET and CT scans are 'fused' together, the combined image provides complete information on cancer location and metabolism, stated Dr. Kallur.

The end result is that patients can have both scans - PET and CT - done at the same time. Duration for carrying out whole body PET-CT scan is 20 minutes.